Getting in on my act

It's not just your faithful blogger who does the travelling.

Matt joined his siblings Philippe & Nadine in Sheffield recently, even enjoying a vegan meal. What, no meat?!

Another time Jodi joined Nadine & Matt

The main reason for Matt's visit? A knife-edge end-of-season match for Bradford City.

I think you can tell from Martin & Mark's faces that they won!

My favourite photo, Mr Innocent holding hands with the ground staff!

Matt wasn't the only one travelling. Tine accompanied some of the residents from the local old people's home on a visit to the aquarium in La Rochelle.

It's been a while since I visited but Tine's photos made me want to return soon.

Look at these jellyfish...

...not a patch on my friend on the beach though.

We had Selim's birthday recently with lovely weather...

...young man was more interested in his new drum kit. Just like Papa.

Thought I'd better get a mention: a Brace of Daves at l'Équipage a couple of months ago.

Beach bars

Late spring is when La Tranche comes to life. 

I was happy to see activity one morning on the road leading to the jetty.

And yes...

...it's l'Embarcadère bar/restaurant...

...fast becoming one of our favourites.

Of course Marie's bar is back...

...just a hundred metres further along the beach (nearer to us then)!

A final look at the new footbridge & bad weather

It's still not open but there are celebrations planned for the beginning of July.

The new footbridge linking l'Aiguillon & la Faute

It's always perfect weather in La Tranche?

Just look at that sky on the road to Angles one day...

...and the hailstorm chez nous!

Spring colours

It's mid-June when I type this, but these photos are from March & April, displaying the wonderful colours of spring.

Gorse on the pathways to the beach

Magnolia in an unknown person's garden!

The rest are chez nous

Always the first to flower, forsythia

Cyclamen peeping out of the troughs

One of our favourites, Euphorbia

Primrose, single...

...or double?

Another of our favourites, Wisteria. Merci, 'Er from Brittany, the gift that keeps on giving.

La Pallice

We've been more than happy with the French health system but we normally have to travel to a larger town to see any specialist.

Tine came with me to La Pallice, a huge industrial area of La Rochelle, and we did a bit of wandering.

The big black building on the left is where the Germans built U-boats in the second world war

This building has been converted to a music venue named La Sirène. I've been to a couple of 'gigs' there: it's an impressive place.

It's hard for you to see but this wall has drawing outlines on, ready to brighten up the building.

Over the channel more dock industries.

Most of the area was probably destroyed in the war and is now home to offices...

...but there are still residences.

Barflies & a birthday!

We've had lots of fun times this Spring.

Since the end of the Starfish we've been going to Le Benèze bar on a Friday evening (next to Séb's pizzas). As you can see, Julia, Elie & Selim are practising their bar skills.

Another day, another bar: Café de la Plage on a Sunday afternoon...

...Selim showing off his dart-playing skills...

...and his new sunglasses (free with a comic).

It's not only the very youngsters who have fun. Here's Angie, Matt, Romain, Tine & your faithful blogger back at Le Benèze.

We were invited to Marine & Harri's house to celebrate Mehdi's birthday

It's not every playroom that has a climbing wall!

Elie, Julia & Selim doing the hard work for Mehdi...

...now with extra-added Tine!

Bridge catch-up at l'Aiguillon & a surprise visitor.

I've not been to inspect the new footbridge recently but I thought I'd share the progress...

...from the end of February...

...to the beginning of March.

As for the surprise visitor, look closely at this video clip taken behind Matt's house.

And here's the damage they do along one of our cycle paths.